Release date: July 1997 (US)
Review Date: 17 July 1998
Swimming through an emotional whirlpool with the Canadian singer/songwriter.
First Impressions
I found out about Sarah McLachlan through reading X-Files fanfic, can
you believe! So many people raved about her music, and her music formed
the basis of many stories. I just wanted to see what all the fuss was
about! At first I thought it was just a "nice" album - the usual female
singer with an angelic voice wielding an acoustic guitar. But this is
really an album that grows on you. I was very taken in by the lyrics,
which are expressed so well by her beautiful voice. Sarah writes about
emotions and situations that I could relate to. They are simple lyrics
and simple melodies. Perhaps it is their simplicity and honesty that makes
her music so powerful? I do a bit of songwriting myself and her music
really inspires me to write more, as it reminds me that you don't have
to be a musical genius to write really beautiful and powerful songs.
Fav Moment
Most of the songs that appealled to me were the upbeat, guitar-based ones
- "Sweet Surrender" being my favourite, and "Building a Mystery" which
I loved as soon as I heard the lyrics. But the slower songs where Sarah
sings and play the piano are also excellent, the best for me being "Do
What You Have To Do". These songs appeal to me because their lyrics are
not sentimental. Sarah sings about the dark side of love without all the
flowery cliches, unlike many of her other counterparts.
Rating
4 1/2 out of 5. A lyrically strong album, perfect to have on when you
want to do some self-introspection. |
